ATLANTA - Thousands of illegal immigrants, mostly Hispanic, and their supporters rallied in front of the Georgia Capitol on Monday, protesting a new state law and calling for Congress to address immigration reform.
The march in downtown Atlanta came as part of "A Day Without Immigrants," during which undocumented workers nationwide stayed away from work and boycotted stores to show their impact on the country's economy.
Stores in heavily Hispanic neighborhoods in metro Atlanta were shuttered for the day. Police closed streets around the Capitol and prepared for as many as 10,000 demonstrators. Although the crowd - estimated at 4,500 - was substantially smaller, participants said they hoped it still sent a message to lawmakers.
"I thought the numbers were going to be lower today because people are scared," said Alberto Garcia, the president of Georgia's Hispanic Political Action Committee. "I can only say the number represent a lot of fear and a lot of courage for people who did come."
Another reason is that Latino advocacy groups, which organized a large-scale march in Atlanta last month, decided to observe only Monday's economic boycott and not the demonstration.
This year, Georgia lawmakers passed a measure that will require adult residents to prove their legal status before receiving many taxpayer funded state services, and businesses must use documented workers in order to get a payroll tax deduction.
A small group of activists opposed to illegal immigration also showed up for Monday's rally at the state Capitol.
D.A. King, an activist who pushed heavily for the passage of the Georgia law and has shown up at previous marches, said the marches were serving to increase backlash among Americans and undermining the cause for supporters of illegal aliens.
"As far as I'm concerned it's shooting themselves in the foot," he said. "I hope they will repeat this day every day for months because they get my message out far more efficiently than I can."
In Augusta, Jesus Ibarra, assistant manager of the Veracruz Mexican Restaurant on Peach Orchard Road, said Monday that the nationwide protest wouldn't affect staffing at his business.
Ron Stevens, the owner of Legacy Stable Inc. in Aiken, said the 15 immigrants on his staff came to work Monday. He said he met with his staff Friday, and they discussed the walkout.
The horse trainer said he promised his staff a short day if they showed up for work.
"I hired a lady to come in and cook tacos, and we had a party," he said.
Staff Writers J.C. Lexow and Betsy Gilliland contributed to this article.
Reach Vicky Eckenrode at (404) 681-1701 or vicky.eckenrode@morris.com.
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U.S. STORES SHUNNED
MEXICO CITY - A daylong protest dubbed "A Day Without Gringos" drew thousands of Mexicans into the streets Monday and kept many away from U.S.-owned supermarkets and fast-food restaurants to support rallies in the U.S. demanding immigration reform.
Some Mexicans said staying away from U.S. businesses was tough, and customers streamed into some branches of Wal-Mart, McDonald's and Burger King in Mexico City.
In the border city of Tijuana, across from San Diego, Calif., about 400 boycott supporters blocked half the access lanes to an international bridge to discourage Mexicans from crossing into the United States to shop.
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STATE'S RALLIES QUIET
COLUMBIA - Several South Carolina businesses closed and hundreds of students did not attend school Monday but it was unclear whether the immigration boycott of work, school and shopping caused a significant economic strain in the state.
The protests were much quieter in South Carolina than in larger cities across the county, but had the same message - immigrants are vital to the economy.
"There has been a lot of abuse in wages," Charleston boycott organizer Diana Salazer said,
"This boycott is a way to say immigrants, both legal and undocumented, contribute to the economy, and we should have rights."
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